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Kept in Custody Under the Law

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When you see the law mentioned in the Bible, what comes to mind? Perhaps you think “the law” = the Law of Moses.

If so, you may dismiss chunks of the New Testament as “not for me.” You might think, “The law was given to the Jews. I am not a Jew. This is not for me.”

And you would be mostly right. The law is not for you. We are under grace, not law. We died to the law, so that we might live for God.

But it would be a mistake to dismiss all those law passages as Jewish passages. Consider this verse:

But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. (Galatians 3:22–23)

This passage is not talking about Jews but everyone. Once upon a time, the human race was captive to sin and kept in custody under the law. In this context “the law” refers to the universal law of right and wrong, a.k.a. the knowledge of good and evil.

Law 1.0 – The Law of Right and Wrong

After Adam ate from the forbidden tree, he knew he had done wrong because he had acquired the knowledge of good and evil. He had a basic version of the law, as do we all. The law of right and wrong is hardwired into the heart of every human:

(The Gentiles) show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them. (Romans 2:15)

When Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, they described their actions using words like evil, sin, and transgression (Gen. 50:15–17). It was not the Law of Moses that condemned them – that came 400 years later – but the law of right and wrong.

The law written in the hearts of sinners gives the knowledge of good and evil. It silences every mouth and holds the whole world accountable to God (Rom. 3:19).

As a sinner, you knew when you had done wrong because your conscience condemned you through the law of right and wrong.

Law 2.0 – The Law of Moses

Then we come to the Law of Moses which refers to the commandments, ordinances, and ceremonial observances given to the nation of Israel (Jos. 8:31, John 1:17, 7:19).

The Law of Moses is a souped-up version of the universal law of right and wrong. It is the Law 2.0 in the sense that it draws lines and prescribes penalties for improper behavior.

Imagine a prison with two prison guards. The first guard is a timid fellow, but the second is a bully. Step out of line and the first guard might have a quiet word in your ear, but the second guard will bash you with his big stick.

This is what Paul is describing in Galatians 3. All of us were in a prison of sin and kept under the guardianship of the law. But the law guarding the Jews was a tougher law. They got the bully. This bully was a boon to the Jews because it made them long for a Deliverer.

Law 3.0 – The Sermon on the Mount

The Ten Commandments were ten blazing spotlights revealing the Jews’ captivity and highlighting their need for a Savior. But the religious leaders dimmed the lights by preaching a partial law. Without the merciless law constantly pounding them, the Jews began to get comfortable inside the prison.

Enter Jesus.

In the Sermon on the Mount the Lord elevated the law and made it magnificent.

You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery”; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:27–28)

Jesus preached a law even stricter than the Law of Moses. He introduced the meanest prison guard of all. If Guard #2 beat you for committing adultery, Guard #3 clobbered you for just thinking about it.

Jesus preached the Law 3.0 to people living under Law 2.0 so that all of us, even those living under Law 1.0, would realize our need for salvation.

What is the custody of the law?

The law – however you definite it – tells you that you are a lawbreaker or sinner in need of salvation. The law is not your friend; he is your jailer. He berates and condemns you without mercy, because that’s his job.

Therefore the law has become our guardian to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:24)

Who is this talking about? Everyone. All of us. Before faith came, we were all kept in custody under the law (see verse 22).

But that was then and this is now. Jesus has come and we don’t need any law any more. We don’t need Jewish law or church law. We who have come to Christ are no longer under the custody of the law (see Rom. 10:4).

So what value does the law have for the believer? It has no value at all. The law is for captives and in Christ we are free.

Thank God for the law that leads us to Christ, but thank him even more that in Christ we are no longer under the custody of the law.

—

How Does God Respond When I Sin?

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We all stumble from time to time. We all make mistakes. Even you.

Even though you are 100% righteous and holy in Christ, your behavior is not 100% righteous and holy. From time to time… you sin.

And what does God do when you sin? Here’s a list of 7 things God doesn’t do when you sin:

  • God does not smite you with judgment
  • God does not condemn you
  • God does not scourge you
  • God does not give you sickness
  • God does not withdraw his presence from you
  • God does not kick you out of his household
  • God does not unadopt you

Sinning is destructive. Sinning has consequences. But the consequences of sin are the fruit of our actions. They are not God’s divine judgments.

If I drive drunk and run over a nun, that’s on me, not God.

If I cheat on my wife and destroy my marriage, that’s entirely my fault.

This is obvious, right?

Yet manmade religion has got us blaming God for all the bad stuff that happens to us.

“God is punishing me.” No he isn’t.

“I’m a terrible sinner.” Maybe you used to be, but not anymore.

“I deserve all the hardship God is giving me.” What hardship? God is a Blesser, not a curser. He’s a Giver, not a taker.

It is not true to think that God is punishing you. All the punishment for sin was placed upon the Son (Is. 53:5).

If God were punishing us for the sins Jesus carried, he is an unjust God.

How does the Holy Spirit deal with our sin?

From time to time we make regrettable choices. When we do, the Holy Spirit will seek to bring about a life-giving course correction.

He doesn’t do that by applying the rod of correction or scourging us with sickness. Instead he reminds us that we are God’s beloved children and he steers us away from danger and back towards the way of life.

He might do this a hundred different ways, but the Spirit of Grace is typically gentle and he always leads us with grace. (I provide a couple of personal examples here.)

Yet again, manmade religion sometimes portrays the Holy Spirit as the sheriff of heaven. Religion says:

  • the Holy Spirit is recording all your sin (nope, he chooses not to remember them; see Heb. 10:17)
  • the Holy Spirit convicts you of your sin (no, he will convict you of your righteousness; see John 16:10)
  • the Holy Spirit wants you to confess all your sins (no, he wants you to confess that Jesus dealt with all your sin once and for all; see 1 John 1:9, Heb. 9:26)
  • the Holy Spirit will unleash God’s judgment (no, he will pour out God’s love; see Rom. 5:5)
  • the Holy Spirit will withdraw from you until you lift your game (no, he will never leave you; John 14:17, Heb. 13:5)

How does God respond when we sin?

He heals and restores us. Why? Because he loves us.

When you stumble, you can be sure that God does not write you off or wash his hands of you. He redeems the messes we make leaving us breathless with gratitude.

He truly is a good Father who loves us through thick and thin. Nothing we do – no matter how stupid or destructive – can separate us from his love.

—

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Filed Under: sin

Why Do I Still Sin If I Am Saved?

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Saint, you don’t have a sinful nature. The old sinner you used to be has been crucified with Christ. One with the Lord you have his heart, his desires, his spiritual DNA, his mind, and his holy nature.

“So why do I still sin?”

This is a great question. So are these:

“If I’m 100% holy in Christ, how come I don’t act 100% holy?”

“If I’m righteous, how come I don’t feel righteous?”

“Why do I sin when I don’t want to sin?”

“Is it possible to lead a sinless life?”

“Will I lose my salvation if I keep sinning?”

We all sin from time to time. The most saintliest person you know sins. Even your pastor sins.

By sin, I mean “miss the mark” or “fall short of what God has in store for us.” This is what sinning is and we all do it from time to time.

Sinning is destructive and not something you want to do. “Why do I still sin if I am saved?” We sin or miss the mark for one of four reasons.

1. We sin because we’re ignorant

The first reason we sin is because we have been lied to.

The mantra of this fallen world is “if it feels good do it.” Feed the flesh. But the indisputable lesson of history is that the way of the flesh (self-effort and self-trust) leads to destruction. Satan switched the price tags. He’s got us convinced that sinning has no consequences.

The remedy is to hear the good news: God loves us and he offers us a new and better life – his life (John 5:21, 10:10).

2. We sin because we are slow to believe the good news

Some people are so invested in this world they refuse to accept the good news. Jesus comes preaching, “Repent and believe the good news of the kingdom,” and they decline. They are so weighed down with wealth or worry, that they spurn his outstretched hand.

Religious people are sometimes the most lost people of all. They don’t want grace because they’re too busy accumulating good deeds and brownie points. Like the Pharisees who rejected Jesus, they have missed the way. They prefer rules to relationship.

The remedy is to repent and turn to God in faith. Confess or acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of grace (1 John 1:9). Receive his forgiveness and be cleansed from all unrighteousness.

3. We sin because we don’t know we can stop sinning

Finally, we come to those who know they are saved and who know they are one with the Lord. Why do Christians sin? Why do we live in addiction or remain captive to destructive habits? Why do we lose our temper and say things we regret? Why do we fall from grace and leave our first love?

Some believers sin because they are ignorant of their new identity in Christ or because they are still living under old lies. They don’t know they can be free or how to be free. They’ve walked the old ways for so long, it does not occur to them that there is a better way.

“It’s just who I am.”

Except it’s not. You weren’t born an alcoholic and you weren’t born addicted to pornography. When you were an infant, you did not have an anger problem or trust issues. These are things you picked up after walking in a fallen world.

If you do something a hundred times it will become second nature to you, but if it’s not in Christ’s nature then it’s not part of your new nature. It’s a bad habit or addiction that the world will feed but which you need to release.

The remedy to ignorance is to renew your mind and offer your body as a living and holy sacrifice to God (Rom. 12:1–2). Stop speaking lies over yourself. You are not what you have done; you are a beloved child of God. You are not merely a forgiven sinner, but a new creation with the indwelling Holy Spirit. So put off the old and put on the new and be renewed in the spirit of your mind (Eph. 4:22–23).

Be Son conscious, not sin conscious.

4. We sin because we’re trying hard not to sin

Then there are those who know all this. They know who they are in Christ yet they still do things that are unhealthy and destructive. They don’t want to sin so they try to stop but fail. They try harder and fail again. Eventually, they quit trying and reject all this grace talk as unrealistic mumbo-jumbo.

“Grace hasn’t helped me.”

And it probably never will, not for as long as you are focusing on your sin and your shortcomings. Your best efforts will never succeed because the flesh cannot cure the flesh.

Here’s the good news that will set you free:

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16)

Your goal is not to stop sinning but to know Christ. Know him in the midst of your struggles. When you’re reaching for those pills or are about to click that link, remind yourself that Jesus is on your side. He who died for you now lives for you so that you might have a life free from sin.

Stop trying to fix your old self (he died with Christ) and feed on the good promises of God. Instead of beating yourself up over your imperfections, fix your eyes on Christ and his perfections.

When you are about to do something unrighteous and unholy, remind yourself that in Christ you are righteous and holy. When temptation comes knocking, reckon yourself dead to it and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

It’s a battle for sure, but it’s a battle you can win. By the grace of God you can be free. If you fall today, by the grace of God you will rise again.

Why do I still sin if I am saved?

We sin because we have taken our eyes off Jesus.

Our bodies are weak and this world is full of snares. From time to time we all stumble. The good news is that when we sin, Jesus doesn’t condemn us. He defends us (1 John 2:1). He shields us from the Accuser and reminds us that we are the dearly-loved children of God.

Whether you sin today or not, nothing can change who you truly are in Christ. And this is the revelation that empowers us to say no to ungodliness and shine in a broken world.

—

Jesus told us to store up treasures in heaven and most of us have no idea what he was talking about. To celebrate E2R’s 14th anniversary, subscribers can grab a FREE COPY of Paul’s study note “How to store up heavenly treasure.” Be quick. This link expires Saturday.

More articles on sin:

The Real Seven Deadly Sins

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Every year on my birthday, my wife makes a delicious gumbo. It’s so yummy I usually have a second helping. And by second, I mean third or fourth. It’s that good!

But according to some theologians, I am sinning when I eat my wife’s gumbo. Why? Because gluttony, which is defined by some as “eating too eagerly” – is one of the seven deadly sins.

Don’t panic.

Gluttony will not send you to hell. An occasional gumbo feast might give you indigestion, but that’s about it.

Are you familiar with the so-called seven deadly sins – gluttony, envy, pride, etc.? You may have heard about the seven deadly sins in Sunday School or from catechism or from a certain Brad Pitt movie.

Some people worry about committing sins that are deadly, but did you know the list was originally invented by pagan philosophers and later adopted by Christian thinkers?

That should tell you something.

People sometimes ask me about the seriousness of their sins. They want to know if they have done one of the really bad ones or if they have got away with a minor sin.

In other words, “How much trouble am I in?” Or “Will God forgive me because what I did was really, really bad?”

Here’s what you need to know about sin: all your sins – past, present and future – were carried by the Lamb of God on the cross (John 1:29). Because he loves you, God is not counting your sins and trespasses against your (2 Cor. 5:19).

Which is really good news.

But does that mean there no deadly sins? Well, there is one deadly sin, which we can express seven different ways.

The Seven Deadly Sins

  1. UNBELIEF in the goodness and grace of God (Acts 13:43–46, Heb. 3:12–15, 10:29)
  2. UNBELIEF in God’s Son the Savior (John 3:16, 36, Heb. 10:29, 12:25, 1 Pet. 2:7, Jude 1:7)
  3. UNBELIEF in the truth of the gospel (Rom. 1:18, 2 Th. 2:12, Heb. 4:6)
  4. UNBELIEF in the finished work of God (Heb. 4:7–10)
  5. UNBELIEF in the gift of righteousness (Rom. 10:3)
  6. UNBELIEF in resurrection of the dead (Mark 16:14, John 20:27, Acts 26:8)
  7. UNBELIEF in the ministry of the Holy Spirit (Acts 16:6–9)

In the end, there is only one deadly sin, and that is the unforgivable sin of unbelief.

The sin of unbelief cannot be forgiven because he who commits it rejects the very thing that would otherwise save him. This rejection may take the form of hard heartedness (“I don’t need God”) or idolatry (“God needs my help”). In either case, the grace of God is rendered ineffective because it is not received.

Unbelief is a killer. There is no other sin like it. Yet we hardly talk about it. Manmade religion distracts you by drawing your attention to lesser sins (like gluttony).

Which is nuts.

(Speaking of nuts, I know a church where an elder was stood down for drinking wine at a family celebration. For a year, they made this man sit at the back near the door in a place of humiliation. They made an example of him because drinking alcohol is a sin. Yet most Sundays, they served communion – with real wine!)

There is far too much emphasis on sin in the church, but if we must talk about sin, let us discuss the dreadful consequences to unbelief.

To reject life is to choose death. To reject salvation is to remain lost. To turn your back, block your ears, and close your eyes to the goodness of God is to embrace darkness.

The subtle shades of unbelief

“Good stuff, Paul. I can think of several people who need to read this. But not me. I’m a believer. I’m saved and sanctified by the blood of Jesus.”

Wonderful. Be strong in the faith of the Lord. But are you attending to your unbelief?

Just as we can feed our faith, we can feed our unbelief, and that’s not something you want to do.

We tend to think of unbelievers as godless atheists, but unbelief comes in subtler shades.

In the church unbelief is manifested in the faithless language of debt and obligation. It’s asking God to do what he’s done. It’s bringing sacrifices and offerings he has not asked for.

An unbelieving believer ought to be a contradiction. Like dry water, there should be no such thing. If you are a born again believer, then believe all the good things God says about you – you are righteous and holy in Christ, completely forgiven and totally loved.

In the kingdom, all is grace. God provides, we receive. But we won’t receive if we think there’s a price to pay or a condition to meet.

This is why we need to be wary of messages that mix grace with dead works, or faith with unbelief.

Faith vs unbelief

The only thing that can render worthless the riches of God’s grace is unbelief. Unbelief prays, “God, please do this, and that, and the other thing,” but faith looks to the finished work of the cross and says, “Lord, you have done it all.”

Unbelief gives — “Lord, look at what I’ve done/built/brought for you” — but faith receives — “Look at what you have done for us.”

Unbelief toils and accomplishes nothing; faith understands that everything comes to us by grace for free.

Unbelief tries but faith trusts. Unbelief works, but faith rests.

The sole condition for receiving the delicious gumbo of God’s grace is you have to want it. The sinner must drop his guns and the saint must put down her offerings so that both may come with empty hands and faith-filled hearts to the table of his blessings.

—

If you are enjoying The Grace Bible series, the good news is it will be doubling in size in 2024. Learn more.

The parable of the Wedding Banquet may be the most misunderstood parable. It raises questions like: Why does the king slaughter the guests who refuse to come? And what is the city that is burned? Read this parable and you may think that God is temperamental, easily angered and that he torches those he doesn’t like. No, no, and a thousand times no. We need to read the parables of Jesus through the lens of new covenant lens. The next exciting installment in my Parables on Patreon series is available now.

The Real Seven Deadly Sins

by

Every year on my birthday, my wife makes a delicious gumbo. It’s so yummy I usually have a second helping. And by second, I mean third or fourth. It’s that good!

But according to some theologians, I am sinning when I eat my wife’s gumbo. Why? Because gluttony, which is defined by some as “eating too eagerly” – is one of the seven deadly sins.

Don’t panic.

Gluttony will not send you to hell. An occasional gumbo feast might give you indigestion, but that’s about it.

Are you familiar with the so-called seven deadly sins – gluttony, envy, pride, etc.? You may have heard about the seven deadly sins in Sunday School or from catechism or from a certain Brad Pitt movie.

Some people worry about committing sins that are deadly, but did you know the list was originally invented by pagan philosophers and later adopted by Christian thinkers?

That should tell you something.

People sometimes ask me about the seriousness of their sins. They want to know if they have done one of the really bad ones or if they have got away with a minor sin.

In other words, “How much trouble am I in?” Or “Will God forgive me because what I did was really, really bad?”

Here’s what you need to know about sin: all your sins – past, present and future – were carried by the Lamb of God on the cross (John 1:29). Because he loves you, God is not counting your sins and trespasses against your (2 Cor. 5:19).

Which is really good news.

But does that mean there no deadly sins? Well, there is one deadly sin, which we can express seven different ways.

The Seven Deadly Sins

  1. UNBELIEF in the goodness and grace of God (Acts 13:43–46, Heb. 3:12–15, 10:29)
  2. UNBELIEF in God’s Son the Savior (John 3:16, 36, Heb. 10:29, 12:25, 1 Pet. 2:7, Jude 1:7)
  3. UNBELIEF in the truth of the gospel (Rom. 1:18, 2 Th. 2:12, Heb. 4:6)
  4. UNBELIEF in the finished work of God (Heb. 4:7–10)
  5. UNBELIEF in the gift of righteousness (Rom. 10:3)
  6. UNBELIEF in resurrection of the dead (Mark 16:14, John 20:27, Acts 26:8)
  7. UNBELIEF in the ministry of the Holy Spirit (Acts 16:6–9)

In the end, there is only one deadly sin, and that is the unforgivable sin of unbelief.

The sin of unbelief cannot be forgiven because he who commits it rejects the very thing that would otherwise save him. This rejection may take the form of hard heartedness (“I don’t need God”) or idolatry (“God needs my help”). In either case, the grace of God is rendered ineffective because it is not received.

Unbelief is a killer. There is no other sin like it. Yet we hardly talk about it. Manmade religion distracts you by drawing your attention to lesser sins (like gluttony).

Which is nuts.

(Speaking of nuts, I know a church where an elder was stood down for drinking wine at a family celebration. For a year, they made this man sit at the back near the door in a place of humiliation. They made an example of him because drinking alcohol is a sin. Yet most Sundays, they served communion – with real wine!)

There is far too much emphasis on sin in the church, but if we must talk about sin, let us discuss the dreadful consequences to unbelief.

To reject life is to choose death. To reject salvation is to remain lost. To turn your back, block your ears, and close your eyes to the goodness of God is to embrace darkness.

The subtle shades of unbelief

“Good stuff, Paul. I can think of several people who need to read this. But not me. I’m a believer. I’m saved and sanctified by the blood of Jesus.”

Wonderful. Be strong in the faith of the Lord. But are you attending to your unbelief?

Just as we can feed our faith, we can feed our unbelief, and that’s not something you want to do.

We tend to think of unbelievers as godless atheists, but unbelief comes in subtler shades.

In the church unbelief is manifested in the faithless language of debt and obligation. It’s asking God to do what he’s done. It’s bringing sacrifices and offerings he has not asked for.

An unbelieving believer ought to be a contradiction. Like dry water, there should be no such thing. If you are a born again believer, then believe all the good things God says about you – you are righteous and holy in Christ, completely forgiven and totally loved.

In the kingdom, all is grace. God provides, we receive. But we won’t receive if we think there’s a price to pay or a condition to meet.

This is why we need to be wary of messages that mix grace with dead works, or faith with unbelief.

Faith vs unbelief

The only thing that can render worthless the riches of God’s grace is unbelief. Unbelief prays, “God, please do this, and that, and the other thing,” but faith looks to the finished work of the cross and says, “Lord, you have done it all.”

Unbelief gives — “Lord, look at what I’ve done/built/brought for you” — but faith receives — “Look at what you have done for us.”

Unbelief toils and accomplishes nothing; faith understands that everything comes to us by grace for free.

Unbelief tries but faith trusts. Unbelief works, but faith rests.

The sole condition for receiving the delicious gumbo of God’s grace is you have to want it. The sinner must drop his guns and the saint must put down her offerings so that both may come with empty hands and faith-filled hearts to the table of his blessings.

—

If you are enjoying The Grace Bible series, the good news is it will be doubling in size in 2024. Learn more.

The parable of the Wedding Banquet may be the most misunderstood parable. It raises questions like: Why does the king slaughter the guests who refuse to come? And what is the city that is burned? Read this parable and you may think that God is temperamental, easily angered and that he torches those he doesn’t like. No, no, and a thousand times no. We need to read the parables of Jesus through the lens of new covenant lens. The next exciting installment in my Parables on Patreon series is available now.

Will I Lose My Salvation if I Keep Sinning?

by

I’m just gonna say it: it is not God’s will for you to live in sin.

“Wait, Paul. I thought you were a grace preacher. Aren’t you supposed to accept people just as they are? Aren’t you supposed to be inclusive and forgiving like Jesus?”

Look, I get it. Grace attracts sinners. Why do you think tax collectors and prostitutes were drawn to Jesus?

He loved them. He accepted them. He also set them free.

Since I preach radical grace, I often hear from people who are fooling around with sin. Some are looking for help in overcoming sin, but most want an assurance that God will continue to love them despite their bad behavior.

Here are my responses to five commonly asked questions:

1. Will God love me if I keep sinning?

Yes, absolutely.

I know this is not what manmade religion has told you, but you need to know that God’s love for you is unaffected by your moral performance.

There are many variables in life but God’s love is the one constant you can bank on. You can be certain that God loves you.

A better question to ask is, “Do you know and enjoy his love?” The prodigal’s father loved him constantly but the prodigal did not know and benefit from his love for as long as his attention was elsewhere.

Every one of us has needs. These needs are meant to lead us to Jesus. If you’re not getting your needs met in Jesus, you will make inferior choices – and this is where the trouble starts.

2. Does God’s grace mean I can continue to live in sin?

No. Grace brings freedom and yes, that includes the freedom to make poor choices, but if you use your freedom to enslave yourself to sin or religion, you have missed the point of grace (Gal. 5:1).

A Christian who runs after sin is like a prisoner who has been released by a gracious king, who uses his freedom to re-offend and do all the things that got him imprisoned in the first place. Now our King is extremely gracious. He won’t send you back to prison. But you may send yourself there.

Jesus didn’t give his life as your ransom just so that you run back to the clay-pits of Egypt. Egypt is history. You’ve got places to go. Move on to the Promised Land of his love.

3. Will I lose my salvation if I keep sinning?

No. Jesus is your salvation and the Holy Spirit is your eternal guarantee (2 Cor. 1:22). If sinning caused us to lose our salvation, heaven would be empty.

But the question troubles me. Religion has got us so obsessed with making heaven and avoiding hell that we’ve put life on hold.

The earth is not a waiting room for eternity. This is where Real Life begins (John 17:3).

Don’t put your life on hold by living captive to the flesh. Salvation is not there and then, but here and now.

God’s will is for you to experience heaven-on-earth today. But choose the way of sin and you’ll experience hell-on-earth.

Religion would have us frame the questions of life in terms of good and evil. “Shouldn’t we do good and avoid evil?” This is fruit from the wrong tree. It’s not that the question above is inherently bad, it just won’t lead you to the right Answer.

Grace is the antidote to the poison of sin. Now that you’ve been saved from death, stop drinking the poison. Drink from the well of his life.

4. If my salvation is secure, why can’t I keep doing what I’m doing?

Because sinning is stupid. Like texting on the freeway. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.

The world will tell you that “if it feels good, do it” and “as long as it’s harming no one, what’s the problem?” These are flawed mantras. Sin carries a hefty price tag. Live from your feelings and you’ll end up enslaved to your appetites. You will be a shadow of your real self.

Understand that I am not calling you to take a vow of chastity. Following Jesus is not about starving the flesh. Following Jesus is about reckoning yourself dead to the world and allowing him to live his life through you.

“As long as it’s harming no one…”

This line usually comes from those who are fooling around. How do you know it’s not harming no one? Do you have perfect knowledge of the future? Do you know for sure that the lady you’re keeping house with is going to be your wife and not the wife of another? Will she be the mother of your children or the mother of someone else’s children?

If you are certain that she will be your wife for life, marry her. If you’re uncertain, stop playing games and man up. People are too precious to fool around with.

5. I can’t help myself. I’m not sure that I could stop even if I wanted to.

That’s not a question but a declaration of unbelief in the liberating grace of God.

Perhaps you are enslaved to sin. You’re in so deep that you can’t see the sun. But that doesn’t mean you are without help and without options.

Your Maker is your Helper, and no one is beyond the reach of his transforming love and grace.

I’ve met countless people who have been changed by his grace. This happens all the time. But transformation rarely happens among those who don’t believe.

Stop playing the victim, and stop speaking lies over your life. Look to your Redeemer. Confess your true identity in Christ.

When you get up in the morning, look at yourself in the mirror and say, “I am my Father’s son and he loves me. I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. As he is in heaven, so am I in this world.”

The world will try and tell you that you are the product of your choices and behaviors, but God says you are his beloved child. Choose who you will listen to and be who you really are.

This is not the place where I talk about overcoming sin.

But beware any message that doesn’t empower you to overcome sin. Don’t listen to those who insist on “being tough on sin” and “laying down the law.” Appeals to try harder, do better, and keep your promises never lead to lasting change because they call you to rely on the flesh. Failure, guilt and condemnation are the inevitable result.

Grace is so much better. Grace is not a set of rules to follow or a whip to keep you in line.

Grace is a victorious Overcomer living his overcoming life through you.

—

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Will I Lose My Salvation if I Keep Sinning?

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I’m just gonna say it: it is not God’s will for you to live in sin.

“Wait, Paul. I thought you were a grace preacher. Aren’t you supposed to accept people just as they are? Aren’t you supposed to be inclusive and forgiving like Jesus?”

Look, I get it. Grace attracts sinners. Why do you think tax collectors and prostitutes were drawn to Jesus?

He loved them. He accepted them. He also set them free.

Since I preach radical grace, I often hear from people who are fooling around with sin. Some are looking for help in overcoming sin, but most want an assurance that God will continue to love them despite their bad behavior.

Here are my responses to five commonly asked questions:

1. Will God love me if I keep sinning?

Yes, absolutely.

I know this is not what manmade religion has told you, but you need to know that God’s love for you is unaffected by your moral performance.

There are many variables in life but God’s love is the one constant you can bank on. You can be certain that God loves you.

A better question to ask is, “Do you know and enjoy his love?” The prodigal’s father loved him constantly but the prodigal did not know and benefit from his love for as long as his attention was elsewhere.

Every one of us has needs. These needs are meant to lead us to Jesus. If you’re not getting your needs met in Jesus, you will make inferior choices – and this is where the trouble starts.

2. Does God’s grace mean I can continue to live in sin?

No. Grace brings freedom and yes, that includes the freedom to make poor choices, but if you use your freedom to enslave yourself to sin or religion, you have missed the point of grace (Gal. 5:1).

A Christian who runs after sin is like a prisoner who has been released by a gracious king, who uses his freedom to re-offend and do all the things that got him imprisoned in the first place. Now our King is extremely gracious. He won’t send you back to prison. But you may send yourself there.

Jesus didn’t give his life as your ransom just so that you run back to the clay-pits of Egypt. Egypt is history. You’ve got places to go. Move on to the Promised Land of his love.

3. Will I lose my salvation if I keep sinning?

No. Jesus is your salvation and the Holy Spirit is your eternal guarantee (2 Cor. 1:22). If sinning caused us to lose our salvation, heaven would be empty.

But the question troubles me. Religion has got us so obsessed with making heaven and avoiding hell that we’ve put life on hold.

The earth is not a waiting room for eternity. This is where Real Life begins (John 17:3).

Don’t put your life on hold by living captive to the flesh. Salvation is not there and then, but here and now.

God’s will is for you to experience heaven-on-earth today. But choose the way of sin and you’ll experience hell-on-earth.

Religion would have us frame the questions of life in terms of good and evil. “Shouldn’t we do good and avoid evil?” This is fruit from the wrong tree. It’s not that the question above is inherently bad, it just won’t lead you to the right Answer.

Grace is the antidote to the poison of sin. Now that you’ve been saved from death, stop drinking the poison. Drink from the well of his life.

4. If my salvation is secure, why can’t I keep doing what I’m doing?

Because sinning is stupid. Like texting on the freeway. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.

The world will tell you that “if it feels good, do it” and “as long as it’s harming no one, what’s the problem?” These are flawed mantras. Sin carries a hefty price tag. Live from your feelings and you’ll end up enslaved to your appetites. You will be a shadow of your real self.

Understand that I am not calling you to take a vow of chastity. Following Jesus is not about starving the flesh. Following Jesus is about reckoning yourself dead to the world and allowing him to live his life through you.

“As long as it’s harming no one…”

This line usually comes from those who are fooling around. How do you know it’s not harming no one? Do you have perfect knowledge of the future? Do you know for sure that the lady you’re keeping house with is going to be your wife and not the wife of another? Will she be the mother of your children or the mother of someone else’s children?

If you are certain that she will be your wife for life, marry her. If you’re uncertain, stop playing games and man up. People too precious to fool around with.

5. I can’t help myself. I’m not sure that I could stop even if I wanted to.

That’s not a question but a declaration of unbelief in the liberating grace of God.

Perhaps you are enslaved to sin. You’re in so deep that you can’t see the sun. But that doesn’t mean you are without help and without options.

Your Maker is your Helper, and no one is beyond the reach of his transforming love and grace.

I’ve met countless people who have been changed by his grace. This happens all the time. But transformation rarely happens among those who don’t believe.

Stop playing the victim, and stop speaking lies over your life. Look to your Redeemer. Confess your true identity in Christ.

When you get up in the morning, look at yourself in the mirror and say, “I am my Father’s son and he loves me. I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. As he is in heaven, so am I in this world.”

The world will try and tell you that you are the product of your choices and behaviors, but God says you are his beloved child. Choose who you will listen to and be who you really are.

This is not the place where I talk about overcoming sin.

But beware any message that doesn’t empower you to overcome sin. Don’t listen to those who insist on “being tough on sin” and “laying down the law.” Appeals to try harder, do better, and keep your promises never lead to lasting change because they call you to rely on the flesh. Failure, guilt and condemnation are the inevitable result.

Grace is so much better. Grace is not a set of rules to follow or a whip to keep you in line.

Grace is a victorious Overcomer living his overcoming life through you.

—

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Are All Sins Forgiven – Past, Present and Future?

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Are all your sins forgiven, past, present and future? This is one of those questions that sounds hard but is easy to answer, provided you have the right definition. What does forgive mean?

Biblical forgiveness

To forgive means to send away or dismiss. It means you are no longer holding onto an offense or a hurt.

In the New Testament two verbs are translated as forgive:

  1. aphiēmi means to send away (e.g., Matt. 6:12)
  2. charizomai means to show favor or kindness (e.g., Gal. 3:18) and can imply the forgiveness of debts (e.g., Luke 7:42)

The noun that is translated as forgiveness (aphesis) is sometimes translated as remission. It means a dismissal, pardon or release (e.g., Luke 24:47).

Capiche?

What did Jesus say about forgiveness?

Prior to the cross, Jesus preached conditional forgiveness to people living under the old covenant. “If you forgive, God will forgive” (Matt. 6:14, Mark 11:25). This was law for those under law.

But as the messenger of the new covenant, Jesus also proclaimed and demonstrated unconditional forgiveness (see Matt. 9:2, 18:22, 27, Luke 7:42, 47, 11:4, 15:22-24, 23:34, John 8:11).

In Christ’s ministry, we see TWO types of forgiveness:

  • old covenant forgiveness (for those under law)
  • new covenant forgiveness (for those under grace)

Which type do you prefer? Obviously we all want the second kind, unconditional forgiveness. And this is what God gives us. The cross is the proof.

How the cross proves God’s forgiveness

John the Baptist said of Jesus, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

When did Jesus take away sin? On the cross.

Whose sin did he take? The sin of the whole world (see also 2 John 2:2).

Did Jesus miss any sins? He carried them all, every last one .

How can we be sure?

On the night he rose from the dead, Jesus told the disciples to start preaching the remission of sins or the good news of unconditional forgiveness (Luke 24:47).

Do you see? Before the cross Jesus preached a promise: “All sins will be forgiven” (Mark 3:28). But after the cross, Jesus preached the promise fulfilled:

Did the apostles get the message? They sure did. They travelled the world encouraging people to receive the gift of God’s forgiveness:

Peter said that “everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins” (Act 10:43).

John said the blood of Jesus “cleanses us from all sin”—past, present, and future (1 John 1:7). Then he adds, “your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake” (1 John 2:12).

Paul preached so that people “may receive forgiveness of sins” (Act 26:18). See also Acts 2:38, 5:31, 13:38-39, Rom. 4:7, 2 Cor. 5:19, Eph. 1:7, 4:32, Col. 1:14, 2:13, 3:13, Heb. 9:22, 10:18, 1 John 2:12.

What about these scriptures?

Preach the unconditional forgiveness of God and you will be hit with four “What about…?” scriptures. How do we read these scriptures through the lens of grace? Relevant responses are linked below:

  1. the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 6:15)
  2. the unforgivable sin (Matt. 12:31)
  3. confession of sins (1 John 1:9)
  4. the sin that leads to death (1 John 5:16)

Let’s recap. To forgive is to pardon or remit. It is not merely ceasing to be angry or resentful, but a deliberate letting go or dismissal of a debt or sin.

Are all your sins forgiven? Let me answer that question with another: Will Jesus ever come and die on the cross again? No. Once was enough. On the cross, all your sins were carried away by the Lamb of God.

His perfect sacrifice dealt with all sin including unconfessed sin, unrepented sin, and all the sins yet to be done.

As far as the east is from the west, So far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12)

At Calvary, all your sins, PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE, were forgiven or carried away as far as the east is from the west. Your part is to believe the good news. Quit trying to get forgiven, and receive, by faith, the gift of God’s forgiveness.

—

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How to Have a Perfectly Good Conscience

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Many people struggle with guilt on a daily basis.

They feel guilty for not spending more time with their kids and for not calling their parents.

They feel guilty for working too hard, not working hard enough, and not working at all.

They feel guilty for getting up too late, giving into cravings, taking meds, not taking meds, not doing the laundry, not recycling, and for scoffing an entire packet of Oreos while watching What We Do in the Shadows.

If you have been raised with rules or high expectations, or if you have an idealized picture of marriage and home life, chances are you are familiar with guilt.

Guilt is what you get when you don’t measure up, and most of us don’t measure up.

But did you know it’s possible not to have a guilty conscience? Maybe you don’t believe me, but there was this guy in the Bible who said this:

Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day. (Acts 23:1)

And before you go, “Well that was Paul the superstar church-planter,” remember that this was also Saul the persecutor of Christians. If anyone should have had regrets and a guilty conscience, surely it should be the chief of sinners.

Yet Paul frequently spoke about having a good and clear conscience.

We are sure that we have a good conscience. (Hebrews 13:18)

If Paul could have a perfectly good and clear conscience, you can too. But first, you need a proper definition of conscience.

What is your conscience?

Perhaps you imagine your conscience to be a judge inside your head who accuses you when you break the rules. Or maybe you hear a Jiminy Cricket-voice scolding you when you mess up. But these are caricatures and not the real thing.

Your conscience is that inner voice that lets you know whether you are walking in the will of God or whether you have departed from it.

The word conscience loosely means “with knowledge.” Your conscience knows when you have crossed the line and missed the mark.

How does it know?

For some, this knowledge is defined by cultural norms. For others, it may come from some religious code such as the Law of Moses.

But ultimately any definition of right and wrong is grounded in the character of God.

How to have a healthy conscience

A healthy conscience is not one that hammers you with the law or one that is subject to society’s definitions of right and wrong. A healthy conscience is one that is in tune with the Holy Spirit.

I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 9:1)

The conscience makes judgments based on knowledge, and the most reliable source of knowledge is the Spirit of Truth.

When the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirits that this is the way to go, and your conscience heeds this instruction, you will be convinced and it will not matter what anybody says.

This is why Paul could stand before the Sanhedrin and talk about having a perfectly good conscience. He knew his conscience was submitted to the Holy Spirit, and no teacher of law could convince him otherwise.

We are exhorted to keep the faith and hold onto a good conscience, and these two things are connected. If you reject or cast away a good conscience your faith will be shipwrecked (1 Tim. 1:18–19). A good conscience is something to protect, and that means knowing how to handle condemnation.

How to silence the inner critic

Sometimes we battle condemnation in the form of self-criticism or self-doubt. “I’m a failure. I’ve messed up. God will never accept me.” When that happens, we need to remind ourselves that:

God is greater than our heart and knows all things. (1 John 3:20)

Your heavenly Father knows every dumb thing you’ve done and every dumb thing you’re going to do, and knowing all this he still loves you and calls you “Beloved” (1 John 2:7). There is nothing you can do to make the Father love you any more, and nothing you can do to make him love you any less. Knowing this fills you with confidence and helps to silence the inner critic.

But God does more than just love you; he justifies you and makes you righteous.

In the eyes of the world, you may not measure up. You may fall short again and again. But God himself is for you! Who can be against you?

What to do when you mess up

We all make mistakes and when we do it’s easy to cower before the voice of condemnation. But there is another voice. When you sin, Jesus doesn’t accuse you; he defends you (1 John 2:1). And then he gently guides you back onto the right path.

This is why we need to listen to the Spirit of Truth when we sin. The Holy Spirit tells you the true facts: God still loves you. Yes, you screwed up but your Father’s got this. Now eyes back on Jesus.

The way to a perfectly good conscience is to walk in step with the Spirit and to believe all the good things that God says about you.

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God. (1 John 3:21)

You don’t have to feel guilty all the time. You have a choice. You can choose to live under condemnation or confidence. You can live under guilt or you can live submitted to God.

The way to be free from a condemning conscience is to assure your heart that God justifies you, he is for you, and he loves you no matter what.

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Want to learn more about maintaining a healthy conscience? Check out the full entry for “Conscience” on Paul’s rapidly growing Grace Glossary.

Do Christians have a Sinful Nature?

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Ever heard the one about how you have two natures wrestling inside you and the one that dominates is the one you feed the most?

It’s not true.

Christian, you do not have a sinful nature. One with the Lord, you have a new heart and a new mind with new desires (1 Cor. 2:16). As a new creation, you get to share in the divine nature of Christ (2 Pet. 1:4).

You don’t have a sinful nature, but the devil would love for you to think that you do.

He will tell you that you are wicked and inclined to sin. The devil wants you resisting yourself because then you won’t resist him.

“Die to yourself daily.” Heard that one? It’s one of the devil’s best lines. So many churchgoers are trying to die daily because they don’t what happened to them at the cross:

Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with him… (Romans 6:6)

Your old self is gone. The person you used to be died with Christ (Col. 2:20). The moment you came to the Lord you were baptized by the Spirit into his death and resurrection (Rom. 6:6–10). Your old self was nailed to the cross and no longer lives.

You don’t need to die daily. Once was enough.

The difference between your old self and the person you are now is found in three words: Christ in you.

Formerly you were inclined to follow the flesh down the well-worn path of self-destruction. But now the indwelling Spirit of God helps you to live whole and righteously.

Formerly, you were corrupted by the sinful choices you made. But now the incorruptible seed of the living Word is bearing good fruit in your life.

Why do I still sin?

Although Christians don’t have a sinful nature, we can be tempted to sin just as Adam and Eve were tempted. When we give into that temptation, perhaps because we have forgotten who we are or because we are not resting in Christ, the result is sin (Jas. 1:14–15).

But unlike Adam and Eve we are not alone in our struggle against temptation. We have the indwelling Holy Spirit. It’s us and Him versus the Tempter. It’s a totally unfair fight against an already-defeated enemy.

With God on your side, how can you lose?

From time to time we all make mistakes. But when you stumble, the Lord is right there to pick you up and speak in your defense (1 John 2:1).

How do I stop sinning?

When we come to Jesus we are set free from sin, but we may need to unlearn some sinful habits. The Bible calls this laying aside the old self and being renewed in the spirit of our minds (Eph. 4:22–23).

If in your former life you were a judgmental bully, by the grace of God you can become kind and compassionate.

If you were bitter and unforgiving, you can learn to forgive others as Christ forgave you.

You were not born bitter and judgmental; you learned these bad habits. And since you learned them, by the grace of God you can unlearn them.

It may seem that sin has a strong grip on your life, but God’s grace is stronger still. Where sin abounds, his grace super-abounds.

Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:11)

Christians do many things in response to sin; we confess our sins, we hold ourselves accountable for our sins, we discuss our sins. We pray against sin, preach against sin, and warn against sin.

But when it comes to sin, there is one thing we must do above all, and that is reckon ourselves dead to it.

When sin comes knocking, don’t open the door.

When sin calls, don’t answer.

A dead person cannot react and cannot be tempted by sin.

Alive to God

That is the first part of the verse, here is the second: reckon yourself alive to God in Christ Jesus. Once upon a time, we were disconnected from the life that is in Christ (Col. 1:21). But now we enjoy fellowship and intimacy with the One who knows us better than we know ourselves.

In Christ, the deepest longings of our heart are fulfilled.

Every one of us wants to feel truly alive, to be full of life, energy, and purpose. Not merely existing but connecting, thriving, and being everything God made us to be.

This is the life we have in union with the Lord.

To be “alive to God” is knowing and being known, and it’s loving and being loved. It is seeing the touch of God in everything you do and in everyone you meet.

This new life begins with a revelation of God your Father and yourself as his dearly-loved child.

God delights in you. He rejoices over you with singing. You are the apple of his eye. When you know Who is for you, it changes everything (Rom. 8:31).

No one who abides in him sins. (1 John 3:6a)

Those who abide or make their home in the sinless Son drop their sinful habits like rotten garments.

No one who is born of God practices sin, because his seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1 John 3:9)

One with the Lord, you are a sinner no more. John is not saying you will never sin (see 1 John 2:1). He is saying it is not in your new nature to sin. Sinning has lost its appeal. Having been set free from your old way of life, you no longer want to sin.

And why would you, when you have found something better by far.

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Two Lies About Sin

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The worst disease to ever afflict the human race is not Covid or cancer, but sin. Sin is not merely breaking the rules or acting immorally. Sin is much more serious than that.

God offers us his divine life but we fall short. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). The gap between our broken and bruised lives and his whole and glorious life is called sin.

Now that we have a Biblical definition of sin, we can look at two lies we have been told about sin.

Lie #1: A little sin can’t hurt

You hardly need me to remind you that we have been sold a con. The world tells us that sin brings pleasure, but the truth is that sin comes with a hefty price tag:

For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23)

God gives life, but sin ministers death. Sin cripples us, diminishes us, and kills us. Sin ruins our lives, our marriages, our families, our world.

When we walk after the flesh, we sow the seeds of destruction and reap a fatal harvest. This fruit is not God’s judgment but sin’s wage. Sin is its own punishment.

You already knew that, right? But what you may not know is that true pleasure – the kind you and I were made for – comes from the Lord.

You will make known to me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forever. (Psalm 16:11)

We were created to enjoy divine and everlasting pleasure, but we traded it all for the fleeting and fatal pleasures of sin.

What a terrible trade! Every disease, heartbreak, and crime that was inflicted on the human race happened because we said no to God and yes to sin.

Lie #2: Sinning makes God mad at you

If the first lie comes from the world, the second lie comes from religion. Religion tell us that sinning is bad because it displeases God and makes him hate us. Not true. God doesn’t hate you. He hates sin!

Why does God hate sin? He hates sin because sin hurts those he loves. God never intended for us to live with the suffering that sin brings.

When Adam turned his back on God, he opened a door to a world of trouble, and so do we whenever we repeat his mistake. When we offer our bodies as instruments of unrighteousness, we become slaves of sin (Rom. 6:16).

Jesus broke you out of sin’s prison, but whenever we walk after the flesh it’s like we’re slapping the chains right back on.

Sinning does not mean we will lose our salvation, but we will surely lose our freedom.

For the Christian, this can happen when we put ourselves under law. Paul rebuked the Galatians because they were trying to perfect in their flesh that which was begun by the Spirit (Gal. 3:3). They put on the heavy yoke of law, stopped walking by faith, and lost their liberty (Gal. 3:12, 5:1).

5 truths about sin

Now that we have exposed some of the lies about sin, here are five truths about sin:

  1. We can sin just as easily by doing good things as bad. Whenever we walk after the flesh, we fall short of the glorious life God has for us.
  2. We all sin, from the best of us to the worst of us. Your sin does not make you unique.
  3. God dealt with all your sin – past, present, and future – at the cross. He did this because he loves you and wants you to share his life with him.
  4. When you stumble, God still loves you. His grace is greater than your sin, his best is better than your worst.
  5. God’s grace empowers you to say no to sin and live the godly life he has for you.

Jesus will never condemn you for your sin. Instead, he will empower you to sin no more so that you might enjoy the whole and abundant life God has for you.

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What is the Sin Leading to Death?

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There are different types of sin, and some more serious than others. Apparently we should pray for those who do the lighter sins, but not waste time praying for those who do the bad ones.

Ever heard that? It comes from this verse:

If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. (1 John 5:16)

What is the sin leading to death and why should we not pray for people doing this sin?

Sin unto death

Some say the sin leading to death is the unforgivable sin, which is unbelief. But why wouldn’t we pray for our unbelieving friends and family members? (We can pray that the eyes of their hearts would be opened to the gospel. We can pray that they would hear Jesus knocking on their door.)

I’ve also heard it said that the fatal sin is taking communion unworthily. Or it’s turning away from Jesus. It’s hypocrisy. It’s lying to the Holy Spirit like Ananias and Sapphira.

Or the sin that leads to death is the sin you did knowing full well that it was sin when you did it.

Or it’s the sin you keep doing again and again because you’re an unrepentant rebel.

In short, the fatal sin is so bad and so offensive to heaven that there’s no point asking God to forgive you. You are so far gone that God can’t help you, and you are not worth praying for.

Nope.

Let’s get two things straight: First, Jesus bore all our sins, big and small, and there is no sin greater than God’s grace (Rom. 5:20). No matter what you have done or how often you’ve done it, there is grace for you.

Second, when we see others destroying themselves in sin, we should pray for them. They need help. Why wouldn’t we pray?

“But some are beyond help. Don’t waste your breath praying for those guys.”

Again, nope. There is no sinner beyond the reach of God’s mighty grace. Not one.

The worst sinner in the world

Look at Saul the Pharisee. If anyone was beyond the reach of grace it was the chief of sinners. Do you think the early Christians wasted time praying for him? Of course they did. Didn’t Jesus teach us to love and pray for their enemies (Matt. 5:44)?

And their prayers were answered. Just look at what happened to Saul.

But I digress. Back to John.

When not to pray

There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that.

John is not talking about different types of sin. He’s telling us when to pray and when to quit praying.

When our brothers and sisters are stumbling in sin, we should not condemn them but pray for them. Pray that God would lead them on to the path of life. “You should pray and God will give them life.”

Someone who is sinning needs life because sinning is destructive. When we sin we are sowing death into our lives, marriages, and families (Rom. 6:23). But the good news is that Jesus gives life.

Imagine you have a friend who is on a destructive path. They are making bad choices and sowing the seeds of death.

They sin.

You pray.

They keep sinning.

You keep praying. It’s not complicated.

But what if the sinning brother or sister makes choices that bring their life to a premature end? What if they drive themselves over the proverbial cliff? If they’re dead there’s no point praying any further. Our responsibility to pray ends at the grave. What happens after that is God’s concern.

Don’t pray for the dead

What is the sin leading to death? It could be just about anything, but once they’re dead you can stop praying for them. Your part is done. Now they are in God’s hands.

This is obvious, right? Only for many it’s not obvious at all.

Some religions and even some Christian denominations pray for the dead or the “faithful departed” even though there is nothing in scripture to support this.

Praying for the dead is a dead work. Start praying for the dead and your prayer lists will only get longer. (How would you know if the prayers were answered?)

Short version: Don’t pray for the dead, but pray for those who have lost their way. Pray that God will lead them in the path of life.

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